Simplicity. Intimacy. Two words that are valuable. Two words we cherish and deeply desire.
We want life to be simple. We want relationships to be simple. We even want our meals to be simple. We often use the phrase “It’s too complicated” and that phrase throws us into chaos and frustration. We don’t like complicated. Complicated is confusing.
Intimacy. We long for it. We desire it. It’s romantic. It speaks of deep love and pure, honest vulnerability. Sometimes intimate times can be had in the arms of a lover and other times intimacy can be found in a quiet evening at home reading a book.
I think those are the two things that the Church- congregational and personal – is missing the most.
If you love the “show” of church, don’t read any further. You’ll be offended.
If you are tired of the “show” of church, keep reading. You’ll find refreshment in the Scripture.
The Bible shows us that simple and intimate is the way God wants us to live. There is nothing simple nor intimate about a works based, performance driven, numbers-define-success religion/church. There is no rest or freedom in that type of system. The American church has become a corporate-model driven organization who defines success by performance and numbers. This doesn’t seem to fit with how Jesus functioned in His earthly ministry. It doesn’t seem to fit how God revealed Himself to the prophets. It doesn’t seem to fit how God revealed Himself to Moses and how He conversed with Moses. The American church seems to be fixated on lights, the importance of a signature sound for the band, how funny and entertaining the preacher is, video, the list goes on and on and on…….
On a personal level we chase the next book or worship CD. What is the next great teaching that will revolutionize my walk with Jesus? Just listen to a morning show give you fifty different ways to make your life simple. And that’s just in one episode. Come back the next day for fifty more. So we come back only to find out that the ones they told us about yesterday are now obsolete and don’t work. Who can do all those things? We treat Jesus like the ten lepers He healed, however, we tend to be like the nine that never came back because life was all about them and what they could get out of it. They got what they wanted/needed and moved on the find the next big thing. It’s a very confusing and crippling circle that entraps us. Life gets dizzy and out of control.
Lights, video, sound, books, etc. are not in and of themselves evil and horrible. However, when the purpose, success and identity of walking with God is defined by these things, the cart has gotten well ahead of the horse. The cart may have actually left the horse behind. The point is that simplicity and intimacy can be lost in these.
Here is how Scripture proves the importance of simplicity and intimacy.
Exodus 33:11 – “The LORD would speak to Moses, as a man speaks with his friend.”
Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God. And I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
1 Kings 19:11-13 – ”The LORD said, “’Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”
Matthew 11:28 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Mark 1:35 – “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Do you see the simple, intimate moments? Is this what is missing in our worship? Not just corporate with our church body, but, in our personal times? Are we so wrapped up in trying to “get” and “grasp” the big idea that we lose the simple, intimate time with Jesus? Have we lost the “take it slow” approach in our relationship with Jesus? In a dating the relationship the thing that everyone wants is to “take it slow”. ”Let’s not rush this” or “Let’s really get to know each other”. Sometimes in our walk with Jesus or our ministry at church we want results fast and now. ”Show me the immediate result or take-away right now”. Maybe we need to return to this approach in our walk with God and our ministry: “Let’s take this slow. Day by day. One step at a time.” I wonder what God would reveal?
Father God,
I need You to slow me down. I need to be reigned in. I need to be still. Lord, help me to go slow. To cherish each moment with You. Show me the things in my life that have caused my walk with You to be complicated. Remove the things that keep me from true intimacy with You. Help me to be quiet in order that I might hear Your whisper. Help me to rest in You. Give me Your yoke for Your burden is light. Remove the weight from my shoulders. Renew within in me a steadfast spirit and a clean heart.
